Who Are You Writing For? By Linda S. Glaz

Amazon has quickly changed everything we understand about the literary industry. The obvious e-book is one example.

And how about the faster paced society?

Writers are struggling to keep up with what and how their stories are to be told. Gone are the days when an individual sits at the typewriter and tells his or her own story without critique partners keeping them honest, editors with less time to give it in the end, and publishers without publishing dollars for a new author.

Add in a society that wants instant gratification, and you have a whole new world to be writing for. One of the classes I teach is on smacking the reader over the head with a two by four on page one. Why? Because that’s often all an agent or editor will look at to decide whether or not they want to consider a project, and also because readers want to be instantly drawn in. If they aren’t, bye-bye book sale.

So what is the next situation that has emerged to change the way a writer writes?

THE SAMPLE…

You know you have a few pages to get the reader’s attention. Will that change the way you write the book? We all want each page to keep the reader turning, or sliding, or tapping. But will this force writers to give it their all for a few pages, then slow the pace?

First we said to smack the reader right side the head for 5-10 pages. “It had better be your best writing.” Then we told them they had one page to get it right. Now, for the reader, how many pages is it going to take to get them to “go to the store and buy this book”?

The answer is far more simple than you would think and more difficult all at the same time.

Write a great book from page one to page…400 or whatever. You need to get the reader’s attention right away, but you can’t afford to let the story slide. If your reader decides a glass of lemonade would taste good enough to put down the book, then you’ve allowed them a “commercial break” and there should never be commercial breaks in a great book. Don’t give them one second when they feel comfortable enough about what is happening to your heroine that they can leave her alone for even a second.

So who are you writing for? An amazing page for agents and editors? A few awesome pages for contests and samples?

Or are you writing full out for the reader who wants an outstanding book from page one to the end?

WHAT THE HECK!!! CONGRATS TO EACH OF YOU!

Jackie, Rick B, Renee B, Deb H, Marji L, Trina, Karla, Leslie!

I decided to send one of Kelli's ebooks to each of you!

CONGRATS!!!!!!

Another Suspense Sealed with a Kiss Giveaway!

If you’re the type who enjoys a tasty touch of romance with your suspense, then Kelli Hughett’s Red Zone should top your summer reading list!

…Marcy Farris nearly trips over a woman’s body when she should have been finding a seat in the bleachers. And while it brings back memories of her husband’s suicide, she wants nothing more than to move forward with her life.

…Jack Briggs, former NFL player, nurses an old injury as he contemplates life after football. Once he sees Marcy Farris, he realizes there could be if only she saw him as more than a has been.

…But it’s important to remember:

Sometimes, an athlete's biggest plays are made off the field.

Kelli weaves a tale of corruption…all for money. What else? And how hearts and bodies of athletes can be drawn into a web looking for its next victim.

What do a touchdown and a murder have in common? Red Zone, by Kelli Hughett.

Maybe you’d like to hear it from Jack Briggs himself:

Interview

So, Jack. I’m guessing this isn’t your first interview, but we haven’t seen your face on the cover of Sport’s Illustrated this year.

(Laughing) I’ve been keeping a low profile since my retirement. This is my first interview in about a year.

After a stellar NFL career as one of the league’s all-time hardest hitting linebackers, you’re in line for a spot in the NFL hall of fame. How’s the injury?

The knee? It’s as good as it’s gonna get, so the doctors tell me. If it weren’t for the knee injury, I’d still be playing.

Fans would love to see you on the field again. How’s retirement treating you?

Retirement? My body knows I’ve retired, but I’m not sure my heart’s got the message.

So you miss the game then?

Like holding my breath underwater. Football was breathing to me. I gave up everything for the game.

Your female fans haven’t cooled off since your retirement. We were keeping women out of the green room this morning. They’re still fond of the “Gentleman Linebacker.” Now that you’ve moved on from the league, will you have time for a love life?

(laughing) Love life? I’m not sure there is life at all after football.

So, if a relationship isn’t in your future, what’s ahead for Jack Briggs?

Your guess is as good as mine. I’m living in Loveland, Colorado now. Great views. Amazing community. Who knows? Maybe I’ll buy a car dealership. (winks)

(Laughing) I think we’ll hear more about #44 in the near future. With a face like yours, I’m sure the TV offers will be pouring in. Do you see a career in commentating?

Maybe. Anything that keeps me in the game. Football is in my blood.

To learn more about Jack Briggs (and his love life) Check out Kelli Hughett’s latest romantic suspense title, Red Zone. 

LEAVE A COMMENT AND I’LL DRAW A NAME MONDAY NIGHT 25 th FOR A FREE EBOOK COPY OF RED ZONE. Leave a comment and email addy!

 And if I’m in a really good mood and we get some awesome comments, I might draw more than one!!!

It’s NOT FAIR! :(:(:(

My mother instilled in me a very strong sense of fair play and it has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks of my life.

I constantly whine about the fairness. In so many situations.

Why do athletes make a fortune when many of our young military families live on food stamps?

Why do some kids just naturally have athletic ability, and others are resigned to cleaning up the field following the game?

Why can celebrities write books (usually someone else writes it) and get published immediately just for name recognition?

And on and on and on…

The best bit of advice I ever received after my mom’s good words was: Life isn’t fair.

God doesn’t promise us the brass ring a thousand times. Shucks, He doesn’t guarantee we’ll ever catch it.

The same rule applies to authors. Life isn’t fair. The industry isn’t fair. Editors aren’t fair. Agents aren’t fair.

Do they set out to be ogres and meanies? No. Well, this one doesn’t as I'm sure most don't. But the fact is: every book doesn’t fit what I’m looking for. It might be the best book ever written, and I’ll spend the rest of my life kicking myself for not signing it, but the fact of the matter is I wasn’t looking for that particular type of book.

Which means one thing: someone else IS looking for that book.

Do the best writers become bestselling authors? Authors at all?

Not necessarily. But the prize goes to those who never give up.

PERSEVERANCE!

You might fill dozens of book binders with rejections. You might be told “no” hundreds, yes, hundreds of time. You might get the most insignificant note scribbled on your query letter, or a short form letter to your email. And they all say “NO!”

BUT, IT ONLY TAKES ONE YES to turn things around.

Just one compared to all of the Nos.

Are you willing to keep writing? Are you willing to continue sending queries? Are you looking to see what they want sent? Are you waiting patiently to hear?

PERSEVERANCE!

PERSEVERANCE!

PERSEVERANCE!